Stern Gland/Stuffing Box

[stephenmartin]

Done several trips accross the channel lately and after every trip there seems to be gallons of filthy brown muddy bilge water sloshing around...the bilge pumps cope with this no problem but surely this can't be right...attempts to isolate the problem seem fruitless....

However having read many posts on here it would seem the likely culprit is the stuffing box....that i have never adjusted in the two years since having the boat...

Many other boat owners say turn the remote greaser every 2-3 hours underway...i was turning the greaser half a turn on every 12-15 hours of underway

I'm thinking of taking the boat to the scrubbing posts and just replacing both lots...

Does the forum think this will cure my problems...at the very least it should remove one element from the equation

 

[michael_w]

Have a look at the stern gland whilst under power, should get a drip every 30 seconds or so. More than that means it could do with adjusting.

If it's your first time; I wouldn't recommend changing the packing whilst dried out. The job may take longer than you thought, or you don't have the right materials. Wait till you haul her for the winter.

 

[sailorman]

back-off the locking ring on the stern tube ( front end ) & tighten the end cap / nut a little then retighten the locking ring to compress the packing. check 4 drips as above post after

 

[Malish]

Read Nigel Calder's book on boat maintenance for a good overview.

You do not say if you can see water dripping from the stuffing box when stationary and / or when underway? if no drips or only v.occasional then unlikely that stuffing box is the culprit.

I would agree that first change of packing is best done as a haul out job.

Whatever you do, do not overtighten the stuffing box or you will score the shaft easily tested by running the engine (in gear) for a few minutes post adjustment, then switch off the engine and check the temperature of the shaft close to the stuffing box - it should only be slightly warm to the touch; if hot the packing is too tight.

 

[sailorman]

got me mixed with
stephenmartin me thinks /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
i do have an old copy of Mr Calders book ( stern glands on Steam Launches /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )

 

[masterofnone]

Had a similar prob a few years back. Grease in pipe between remote greaser and stern gland had solidified. When I checked stuffing box (whilst hauled out) all the packing had gone. Replaced, cut packing into rings, each offset, scrapped remote, put a nipple on box. jobs a good un.